The 22-room hotel describes itself as offering “Quirky Luxury” and “a return to the opulence of the Empire.” Each of the rooms is different and decked out in dark wood, handcrafted Indian furniture (including giant four-poster beds in some rooms) and oriental rugs alongside all the mod-cons you would expect in a luxury hotel – plus a few little extras such as a complimentary miniature bottle of organic elderflower vodka with two shot glasses on the bedside table when we arrive. The black-tiled bathrooms feel very luxurious and are crammed with white robes, fluffy towels and full-sized Apothecary toiletries.

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Rooms are given names rather than numbers – we are in Empire which is one of the largest rooms – other names include English Eccentric (with pictures all over its door), Mandalay which is a smaller, cosy-feeling room with pictures of India all over one wall and the exotic-sounding Kama Sutra.

Downstairs the bar was busy and noisy with Friday-night drinkers so we sat in the huge, well-kept garden for our pre-dinner gin and tonics – if the weather hadn’t been so good we could have sat in the large, comfortable lounge.
The common areas of the hotel and restaurant are all decorated in convincing colonial style and there are carved wooden elephants dotted throughout the hotel. The restaurant (click here for review) serves good, traditional food – the space-dust truffles which come with the coffee deserve a special mention.

The Elephant has a relaxed, friendly feel with none of the formality of a traditional hotel. It was a great place to stay while I revisited Pangbourne – even if it did feel strange that no one asked me for my ID.

Prices: Single room B&B from £100 per night, Double room B&B from £140 per night